Swivel joint coupler for electric cords



o. P. FIURPAHS 2,832,940

SWIVEL JOINT COUPLER FOR ELECTRIC CORDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 29, 1958Filed July 5, 1955 JIM,

IN V EN TOR.

BY pmey 5M4 0m: 'R-Fur a/w April 1958 o. P. FURPAHS 2,832,940

SWIVEL JOINT COUPLER FOR ELECTRIC CORDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5,1955 MW 3 m I United States This invention relates to the 'class ofelectrical connectors, and more particularly to a novel swivel jointcoupler.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision ofa swivel .joint coupler for preventing twisting, coiling and breaking ofelementsof multiconductor electrical cords, such astelephone cords,ironing cords, extension cords, lamp cords, rotating antennas andsimilar devices (radar) and other multiconductor electrical cords usedon industrial machinery which are constantly rotating when in operation.

Another object of the invention'resides in the provision of a swiveljoin coupler for coupling electrical cords requiring coaxial motion tothus prevent twisting, coiling and breaking which is strong and durable,simple in construction and which can be economically.manufactured so asto permit wide distribution and utilization.

The construction of this invention features the utilization of male andfemale members which are assembled within a housing for retaining theinternal portions of the invention. The male and female members carrycontacts and are of insulating material and are swivelly joined todefine a plurality of stepped and enclosed contact means arrangedbetween annular contact elements. The male and female members providecylindrical extensions carrying a plurality of longitudinal recesseseach capable of receiving an individual annular contact element. Eachannular contact element is provided with a perpendicular tongueextension which is electrically connected to the wires of the cable.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a swiveljoint coupler which eliminates the necessity for a soldered joint by theutilization of set screws which exert pressure on the perpendiculartongues of the individual annular contact carrying elements.

An additional important object of the invention resides in the steppedarrangement utilized in the swivel joint coupler which provides adielectric chamber wall protecting each individual contact member.

An additional important feature of the swivel joint coupler is theremovable core portion utilized in conjunction with the male and femalemembers which serve as a retaining member for firmly holding in placethe individual cables along its length and when inserted into the maleand female members.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by this electrical connector, preferredembodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings,by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electrical connector astaken along the plane of a line extending through the longitudinal axisthereof;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the various components ofthe present invention;

Figure 3 is alongitudinal sectional detail modified form of theinvention;

view of a atent C) Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view astaken alongtention directed to the embodiment of the invention as is shown inFigures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate theswivel joint coupler comprising the present invention. This swivel jointcoupler includes a female contact carrying member 12 and a male contactcarrying member 14 of any suitable insulating material and of generallycylindrical shape. The female contact carrying member 12 has a faceadapted to receive a nonferrous annular contact element 16 as well as anonferrous contact member 18. Contacts 16 and 18 are molded into thefemale contact carrying member 12 during the manufacture thereof.

A recess 21) is also formed in the female contact carrying member 12 forreception of a core 22. The'transverse bores 24, 26 andr28 are formed inthe female contact carrying member 12 and threaded inserts indicated at30 and 32 are molded into the female contact carrying element 12 forthreaded'reception of the screws 34, 36 and 38. The core 22 which fitsinto the recess 20 is similar in configuration to the core 40 which fitsinto the recess 42 in the male contact carrying member 14. The core 22includes a pair of bores 44 and 46 which extend longitudinally throughthecore, as well as a transverse bore 48 for reception of the screw 38utilized to hold the core in place. The ends of the multiconductor cable50 extend through the bores 44 and 46 and have their ends 52 and 54clampingly held in position by means of the screws 34 and 36 which holdthe ends 52 and 54 within the recesses 56 and 58 of the core 22 betweenthe contact elements 16 and 18 and the core 22.

The core 40 is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with screws 60 and62 to hold the ends of wires 64 and 66 in'position against non-ferrousmetal contact members 6S and '70. Wires having the ends 64 and 66 formthe multiconductor 72. A further screw 76 is provided and extendsthrough the aperture 78 in the male contact carrying member 14 to holdthe core 40 in position. The screws 60 and 62extend through apertures 88and 82 in the male carrying member 14.

The female carrying member 12 has a peripheral groove 86 therein adaptedto receive the tongue 88 of the male carrying member 14. Received in thespace between the tongue 88 and the groove 86 are the ring portions 90of the contact 16, the ring portion 92 of the contact 74) as well as thesplit ring 94. Received between the central portions 96 and 98 of thefemale and male carrying mem bers 12 and 14, respectively, are the diskportions 100 of the contact 18, the disk portion 102 of the contact 68,and the split ring 104. Obviously, a split disk in lieu of thesplit ring104 can be utilized if such as found desirable.

An upper covering member of generally cylindrical shape, as at 108, isprovided and includes a flanged portion 103 adapted to seat in theshoulder extending around the periphery of the male carrying member14. Afurther cover member 112 has a flanged portion 114 capable of seating inthe shoulder 116 extending about the periphery of the female carryingmember 12. The covering member 106 is provided with an annular groove118 therein, and the covering member 112 is provided with a groove 120therein. Received in the grooves 118 and 120 is a peripheral lockingring 122. Of course, other types and shapes of locking rings 122 may beutilized as desired.

The expansion and contraction of the peripheral locking ring 122 allowsfor the easy assembly and disassembly of this invention. Thelarge'split, ring 94 whichis formed ofanon-ferrousmetal is slightlyopened, giving ita lock washer shape to present the nccessaryelasticitywhen inserted between the contact elements and 92,and the split ring 104is also slightly openiinsertbetween contact elements and 102.

The covering member 112, may be provided with a series ofbosses, as at130, adapted to seat in recesses 131.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention as 'is shown in Figures3 through 5, when it is desired to utilize prongs or blades, as at 150.and 152,.in'c0niunction with the invention soas to provide a swivel typeplug, the male body portion 154 of this plug which is generallyindicated by reference numeral 156 has the prongs 150,

and 152 embedded therein Further, the male carrying member .154 isprovidedwith a peripheral groove, 158 adapted to cooperate with thecovering member generally indicated by, reference numeral 164 whichincludes a pcripheral lower flange 166 engageable within a peripheralgroove 168 in the female carrying member 170.. The female carryingmember 170 is of identical configuration and shape as the femalecarrying member 12 and receives a core 172 therein to which the contacts174 and 176 are urged. The contacts 174 and 176 are held inplace bymeans of setscrews 178 and 180 which extend through bores 182and 184 inthe carrying-member 170 and in the inserts 186 and 188 to hold thecontacts 174 and 176 against the ends of the Wires 190 and'192. Acontact 194 extends from the prong or blade 152 and terminates in a ring196. which bears against asplit ring 198 which bears against the ringportion 200 of the contact174.

A contact 202 having an annular disk portion 204 is provided and a splitring 206 is inserted between the disk portion 204 of the contact 202 andthe disk portion 208 of the contact 176. A further screw 203 extendsthrough bore 205 and through insert 207 to hold the core 172 inposition.

As can be readily understood, the female carrying member-170 can swivelwithinthe casing as may be desired, and thus can swivel relative to themale plug portion 154.

as is shown in Figure 6 may be utilized, and it will be seen herein thatmale plug portion 210 may be providedwith ears as at 212 and 214apertured at 216 and 218 which cooperate with ears 220 and 222 alsoapertured, as at 224 and 226, of the cover of the female carryingmember228 to receive suitable fasteners,such as bolts or screws to thus securethese two mating parts together.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of. the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in theart, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed,and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A swivel joint coupler for multiconductor electric cables comprisinga male carrying member rotatably interengaged with a female carryingmember, afirst flat contact partially embedded in said male carryingmember and terminating in a first disk, a second flat contact partiallyembedded in said female carrying member and terminatingin a second disk,electrically conductive spring means between said first and seconddisks, a third fiat contact partially embedded in said male carryingmember and terminating. in a first ring, a fourth flat contact partiallyembedded in said female carrying member and terminatingin a second ring,electrically conductive spring means disposed, between said first andsecond rings, and

covering,means rotatably holding; said male and .female having a recesstherein, a core receiving the ends of the wires of a multiconductorcable disposed in said recess, andfastening means holding said ends. ofsaid wires against said second and fourthcontacts, said fastening meansincluding threaded apertures in said female member and screwscooperating with said apertures to apply pressure to said wires to holdthem against said contacts.

2. A swivel joint coupler for multiconductor. electric cables comprisinga male carrying member rotatably intercngaged with a female carryingmember, a first fiat contact partially embedded in said malecarryingmember and terminating in a first disk, a second flat contactpartially embedded in said female carrying member and terminating in asecond disk, electrically conductive spring means between said first andsecond disks, a third flat contact partially embedded in said malecarrying member and terminating in a first ring, a fourthfiatcontactpartially embedded insaidfemale carrying mem'ber andterminating in a second ring, electrically conductive spring meansdisposed between said first and second rings, and covering meansrotatably holdingzsaid male and female carrying members together, saidfemale carrying, member having" a recesstherein, a core receiving theends of the wires of a multiconductor cable disposed in said recess,andfastening means holding said ends of said wires against said secondand fourth contacts, said male carrying member having a recess therein,another core receivingthe ends of other wires of another multiconductorcable disposed in said recess in said male carrying member, and otherfastening means holding said ends of said other wires against said firstand fourth contacts, said fastening means including threaded aperturesin said male and female members and screws cooperating with saidapertures to apply pressure to said wires to hold them against saidcontacts.

3. A swivel joint coupler for multiconductor electric cables comprisinga male carrying member rotatably interengaged with a female carryingmember, a first flat contact partially embedded in said male carryingmember and terminating ina first disk, asecond flat contact partiallyembedded in said female carrying member and terminating in a'seconddisk, electrically conductive spring meansbetween said first and seconddisks, a third flat contact partially embedded in said male carryingmember and terminating in a first ring, a fourth flat contact partiallyembedded insaid female carrying member and terminating in a second ring,electrically conductive spring means disposed between said first andsecond rings, and covering means rotatably holding said male and femalecarrying members together, a pair of prongs extending outwardly fromsaid male member, said, first and third contacts engaging said prongssaidfemale carrying member having a recess therein, a core receiving theends of the wires of a multiconductor cable disposed in said recess,

1 to said wires to hold them against said contacts.

4. The structureof claim 3 wherein said covering means include an uppercovering member and a lower covering member, and achannel-shaped lockingring, engaging and lockingly holding saidupper covering, member and said3 lower covering member.

References Cited in the file of this patent I I UNITED STATES PATENTS

